parenthetical

A parenthetical statement is one that explains or qualifies something. You can call such a statement a parenthetical, (especially when it's in parentheses).

Have you ever said something like "I'm hungry!" and then added "...but I only want French fries"? That second statement is parenthetical: it clarifies the first statement. Just like words in parentheses (like these words) add clarity to a sentence, parenthetical words in speech help make something clearer or give extra information. You can call these statements (or words that actually are inside parentheses) parentheticals; and while parentheticals aren't the most important ideas, they help support those ideas.

Definitions of parenthetical
  1. adjective
    qualifying or explaining; placed or as if placed in parentheses
    “parenthetical remarks”
    synonyms: parenthetic
    incident, incidental
    (sometimes followed by `to') minor or casual or subordinate in significance or nature or occurring as a chance concomitant or consequence
  2. noun
    an expression in parentheses
    “his writing was full of parentheticals”
    synonyms: parenthetical expression
    see moresee less
    type of:
    adjunct
    a construction that can be used to extend the meaning of a word or phrase but is not one of the main constituents of a sentence
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